Disney Investor Day 2020 Recap: Disney+ Announcements

During last week’s four hour webstream Investor Day presentation, the Walt Disney Company revealed their vision of the future and the path they’ll be following for the next several years. From Disney studios to streaming services, various leadership teams at Disney shared big announcements for how these divisions will be operating going forward, along with some of the new content that will be available soon on these platforms.

This recap covers the Disney+ portion of presentation and the Disney brands. We’ve also recapped the announcements for Hulu, FX, ESPN+, Star, and Star+  as well as Disney’s theatrical releases in separate posts. Additionally, for up to the minute news as it was happening, please check out our Live Blog or Investor Day Hub for more on the day’s events.

Disney+ Investor Day News

Below are highlights and links to the biggest stories and announcements that came out of today’s Investor Day presentation.

Quick Facts:

  • Since launching in November 2019, Disney+ has outperformed Disney’s most generous expectations. As of December 2, 2020 Disney+ has 86.8 million subscribers worldwide.
  • Because of these encouraging numbers, Disney has set new long term goals for their three streaming platforms, Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu.
  • The company expects to have 300 to 350 million subscribers worldwide across their three services by the end of Fiscal 2024.
  • Disney will continue to offer original theatrical and television network programming before having this content join the Direct-To-Consumer platforms.

Pricing:

  • In March 2021, Disney+ will increase the monthly subscription cost by $1 in the U.S. and by local equivalents in their international markets.
  • Additionally, the international markets will now include content from Star (Disney’s international response to Hulu) directly on Disney+ as a sixth brand.
  • In Latin America, Star+ will launch in Summer 2021 and will be offered as a standalone service, or can be bundled with Disney+.
  • Currently Disney+ is available in the U.S. for $6.99/month or $69.99/year, while the Disney Bundle (Disney+, ESPN+, ad-supported Hulu) is $12.99 per month.
  • Starting March 26, 2021 Disney+ will be $7.99/month $79.99/year, and the Disney Bundle will be $13.99 per month.
  • Also debuting in 2021, the Hulu No-Ads tier will be an option for Disney Bundle subscribers. This will raise the price by an additional $6, brining the total to $19.99 per month

Premier Access:

  • Some fans anticipated that Disney would announce a whole slew of films coming to Disney+ through Premier Access, but that wasn’t the case.
  • For the time being, Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon is the only movie announced for this service. The film will debut simultaneously in theatres and on Disney+ through Premier Access in March 2021.
  • Premier Access will cost $29.99 on top of your Disney+ subscription. Disney hasn’t announced when the movie will be available to all subscribers.

New Series and Original Movies:

  • Over the next few years, Disney+’s various brands plan to roll out numerous series and feature length content focusing on existing characters, as well as introducing new friends and properties that fans will love. Among these are:
    • 10 Star Wars series
    • 10 Marvel series
    • 15 Disney live action, Disney Animation, and Pixar series
    • 15 Disney live action, Disney Animation, and Pixar features

Disney+

Disney+ Originals

Beauty and the Beast (Working Title)

Luke Evans and Josh Gad return as Gaston and LeFou in this prequel that explores the kingdom in the years before the Beast and Belle’s epic romance. Witness the destinies of many familiar characters take shape as they cross paths with new characters as they experience their own exciting epic adventures and romances, all set to an original soundtrack from Alan Menken.

Big Shot

The series follows a temperamental college basketball coach who gets fired from his job and must take a teaching and coaching job at an elite all-girls private high school. Big Shot stars John Stamos and an ensemble cast of up-and-coming actors alongside Yvette Nicole Brown.

Mighty Ducks: Game Changers

In present day Minnesota, the Mighty Ducks have evolved from scrappy underdogs to an ultra-competitive, powerhouse youth hockey team. After 12-year-old Evan is unceremoniously cut from the Ducks, he and his mom Alex set out to build their own ragtag team of misfits to challenge the cutthroat, win-at-all-costs culture of competitive youth sports.

Mysterious Benedict Society

Placed undercover at a boarding school known as The Institute, a group of orphans must foil a nefarious plot with global ramifications while creating a new sort of family along the way. Based on the bestseller by Trenton Lee Stewart.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians

This new series explores the epic adventures of a modern-day demigod, based on the bestselling book series by Rick Riordan.

Turner & Hooch

When an ambitious, buttoned-up US Marshall inherits a big unruly dog, he soon realizes the dog he didn’t want may be the partner he needs.

Walt Disney Animation Studios

Baymax!

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ first-ever animated series, takes place in the fantastical city of San Fransokyo and features fan favorite healthcare bot, Baymax. Created by Don Hall, Baymax premieres on Disney+ in early 2022.

Iwájú

Iwájú is an all-new original series coming to Disney+ in 2022. The series is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between Walt Disney Animation Studios and comic book entertainment company Kugali. Iwájú, which roughly translates to “The Future” in the Yoruba language, is steeped in science fiction. The long-form series is set in Lagos, Nigeria, exploring deep themes of class, innocence and challenging the status quo.

Moana, The Series

Moana, The Series, coming to Disney+ in 2023, is a new long-form musical series that follows spirited voyager Moana as she ventures far beyond the reef.

Tiana

Tiana, coming to Disney+ in 2023, is a long-form musical-comedy series featuring the extraordinary entrepreneur who’s now princess of the kingdom Maldonia. The all-new adventures explore both Maldonia and Tiana’s beloved hometown, New Orleans. Tiana is the first princess to have her own Walt Disney Animation Studios series.

Zootopia+

Zootopia+ dives deeper into the lives of some of the feature film’s most intriguing characters, including Fru Fru, the newly married arctic shrew; Gazelle’s talented tiger dancers; and the sloth full of surprises, Flash. The short-form series debuts on Disney+ in Spring 2022.

Walt Disney Studios

Chip N’ Dale Rescue Rangers

A hybrid live-action-animated feature for Disney+, is in development. Akiva Schaffer directs, and John Mulaney and Andy Samberg are set to star in the title roles with Seth Rogen doing a cameo. Chip N’ Dale: Rescue Rangers is slated for spring 2022.

Chris Paul project

The Chris Paul project is a biographical film in development for Disney+ about NBA superstar Chris Paul. It follows Paul’s deeply moving story of family, legacy and destiny that helped make him who he is today.

Disenchanted

A sequel to the hit film Enchanted, will stream exclusively on Disney+. Amy Adams returns as Giselle, who found her life flipped upside down when she fell out of her animated fantasy world and discovered herself stuck in real-life Manhattan.

Flora & Ulysses

A delightful comedy-adventure based on the book of the same name tells the story of 10-year-old Flora, an avid comic book fan and a self-avowed cynic, who rescues a squirrel with unique superhero powers. The film makes its debut on Disney+ February 19, 2021.

Greek Freak

Greek Freak heads into production next year for Disney+. It is the remarkable story of NBA MVP Giannis 6 Antetokounmpo and his family, who lifted themselves out of poverty as undocumented immigrants living in Greece. Ultimately, Giannis finds himself on the world stage.

Hocus Pocus 2

Hocus Pocus 2, exclusively on Disney+, is the spooky sequel to the 1993 Halloween cult classic Hocus Pocus. Adam Shankman is set to direct.

Keanon Lowe Project

The Keanon Lowe Project, coming to Disney+, is inspired by the incredible real-life story of a high school coach who averted tragedy through compassion. Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia and Hiram Garcia are on board as producers for the project through their Seven Bucks Productions.

Peter Pan and Wendy

A young girl rebels against “growing up” by going with her two brothers to a magical land ruled by an ageless boy obsessed with adventure who is locked in an ongoing battle with a pirate captain. The cast includes Jude Law as Captain Hook and Yara Shahidi in the role of Tinker Bell.

Pinocchio

A living puppet, with the help of a cricket as his conscience, must prove himself worthy to become a real boy in a musical remake of the Disney animated classic. Pinocchio stars Tom Hanks and Robert Zemeckis will direct.

Sister Act 3

The third film in the beloved Sister Act series, is in development. Whoopi Goldberg is on board to star and produce, with Tyler Perry also signed on as a producer on the project.

Swiss Family Robinson

From creators Ron Moore and Jon Chu, Swiss Family Robinson is a modern reimagining of the classic Disney film about a family shipwrecked on a desert island.

Three Men and a Baby

A modern take on the hilarious ’80s comedy, will star Zac Efron and is slated for a 2022 release on Disney+.

20th Century Studios Properties

Cheaper By the Dozen

A reimagining of the hit comedy with black-ish producer Kenya Barris, will air on Disney+ in 2022. The story centers on a multiracial, blended family of 12, navigating a hectic home life while managing their family business. Gabrielle Union is set to star.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Diary of a Wimpy Kid, which has spawned a successful live-action film franchise from the popular books, comes to Disney+ in 2021 as an all-new animated film.

Night at the Museum

Night at the Museum comes to Disney+ with a new twist: this time it’s animated. Shawn Levy is on board as a producer and the film will launch on Disney+ in 2021.

The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild

Made exclusively for Disney+, this spin-off of the popular Ice Age franchise from 20th Century Studios centers on three series favorites: the prankster possum brothers Crash and Eddie, and the swashbuckling titular weasel, Buck. Simon Pegg will be returning in the role of Buck. The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild is slated for an early 2022 release.

Pixar

Cars

Cars, coming to Disney+ in Fall 2022, is an all-new series that follows Lightning McQueen and his best friend Mater on a cross-country road trip. These episodes are filled with lots of fun new characters, imaginative destinations as well as old friends checking in along the way.

Dug Days

Premiering exclusively on Disney+ in Fall 2021, Dug Days a new collection of shorts that follows the humorous misadventures of Dug, the lovable dog from Up. Each short features everyday events that occur in and around Dug’s backyard, all through the exciting (and delightfully distorted) eyes of our favorite talking dog.

Pixar Popcorn

Pixar Popcorn, coming to Disney+ in January 2021, is a collection of mini shorts featuring Pixar characters in all-new, bite-size stories created by Pixar’s talented animators.

SparkShorts “Burrow”

“Burrow” is part of Pixar’s collection of shorts called SparkShorts and debuts exclusively on Disney+ on December 25, 2020. “Burrow” features a young rabbit who embarks on a journey to dig the burrow of her dreams, despite not having a clue what she’s doing. Rather than reveal to her neighbors her imperfections, she digs herself deeper and deeper into trouble. After hitting (bed)rock bottom, she learns there is no shame in asking for help.

Win or Lose

Pixar’s first-ever original long-form animated series, debuts on Disney+ in 2023. It follows a coed middle school softball team in the week leading up to their championship game. Each 20-minute episode highlights the perspective of a different character and explores the drama of bad calls made on and off the field. Win or Lose is a comedy about love, rivalry and the challenges we all face in our struggle to win at life.

Marvel

Armor Wars

Based on the classic Marvel comic series, Armor Wars stars Don Cheadle as James Rhodes aka War Machine who must face what happens when Tony Stark’s tech falls into the wrong hands.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special

Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, slated for Disney+ during the 2022 holiday season, is written and directed by James Gunn.

Hawkeye

Hawkeye debuts on Disney+ in late 2021, stars Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, who teams up with Kate Bishop, played by Hailee Steinfeld.

I Am Groot

I Am Groot features everyone’s favorite baby tree in a series of original shorts coming to Disney+.

Ironheart

Ironheart stars Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams, a genius inventor who creates the most advanced suit of armor since Iron Man.

Loki

Loki is set to debut on Disney+ in May 2021 featuring the God of Mischief as he steps out of his brother’s shadow in a new series that takes place after the events of Avengers: Endgame.

Moon Knight

Directed by Mohamed Diab, the action-adventure features a complex vigilante who suffers from dissociative identity disorder. The multiple identities who live inside him are distinct characters who appear against a backdrop of Egyptian iconography.

Ms. Marvel

Launching on Disney+ in late 2021, Ms. Marvel introduces Kamala Khan—a 16-year-old Pakistani-American growing up in Jersey City. A great student, an avid gamer and a voracious fan-fiction scribe, she has a special affinity for superheroes, particularly Captain Marvel. But Kamala struggles to fit in at home and at school—that is, until she gets super powers like the heroes she’s always looked up to. Life is easier with super powers, right?

Secret Invasion

Secret Invasion stars Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Ben Mendelsohn as the Skrull Talos. The crossover comic event series showcases a faction of shape-shifting Skrulls who have been infiltrating Earth for years.

She-Hulk

She-Hulk, a new comedy series, stars Tatiana Maslany as She-Hulk/Jennifer Walters, a lawyer who specializes in superhuman-oriented legal cases. She-Hulk will welcome a host of Marvel characters to the series, including the Hulk, played by Mark Ruffalo, and the Abomination, played by Tim Roth.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

Kicking off on Disney+ March 19, 2021, the new series stars Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson aka The Falcon, and Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes aka The Winter Soldier. The pair team up on a global adventure that tests their abilities—and their patience.

WandaVision

Wanda Maximoff and Vision are two super-powered beings living idealized suburban lives, but begin to suspect everything is not as it seems. The series launches on Disney+ on January 15, 2021.

What If…?

What If…? flips the script on the MCU, reimagining famous events from the films in unexpected ways. Coming to Disney+ in Summer 2021, Marvel Studios’ first animated series focuses on different heroes from the MCU, featuring a voice cast that includes a host of stars who reprise their roles.

Star Wars

A Droid Story

Lucasfilm Animation is teaming up with Lucasfilm’s visual effects team to develop a special Star Wars adventure film for Disney+, A Droid Story. This epic journey will introduce us to a new hero, guided by legendary duo R2-D2 and C-3PO.

Andor 

Andor, a tense nail-biting spy thriller created by Tony Gilroy, is set to arrive on Disney+ in 2022. Diego Luna, reprises the role of rebel spy Cassian Andor from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Disney also shared a sizzle reel for the series giving fans their first look at this upcoming adventure.

Asoka 

After making her long-awaited, live-action debut in The Mandalorian, Ahsoka Tano’s story will continue in a limited series written by Dave Filoni.

Obi-Wan Kenobi 

Ewan McGregor returns in the iconic role of Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi for a special event series on Disney+. The series begins 10 years after the dramatic events of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. Joining McGregor, is Hayden Christensen who will reprise his role of Darth Vader. Deborah Chow helms the series.

Lando

The galaxy’s favorite scoundrel, Lando Calrissian, will return in Lando, a brand-new event series for Disney+. Justin Simien, creator of the critically-acclaimed Dear White People and a huge Star Wars fan, is in the early stages of developing the project.

Rangers of the New Republic

Set within the timeline of The Mandalorian, Rangers of the New Republic is a new live-action series from executive producers Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni that will intersect with future stories and culminate into a climactic story event.

Star Wars: Visions

Star Wars: Visions will be a series of animated short films celebrating Star Wars through the lens of the world’s best anime creators. The anthology collection will bring 10 fantastic visions from several of the leading Japanese anime studios, offering a fresh and diverse cultural perspective to Star Wars.

The Acolyte

Leslye Headland, creator of the mind-bending series Russian Doll, brings a new Star Wars series to Disney+ with The Acolyte. The mystery-thriller will take viewers into a galaxy of shadowy secrets and emerging dark-side powers in the final days of the High Republic era.

The Bad Batch

The Disney+ exclusive animated series follows the elite and experimental clones of the Bad Batch as they find their way in a rapidly changing galaxy in the immediate aftermath of the Clone War. The group will take on daring mercenary missions as they struggle to stay afloat and find new purpose.

Willow

Set decades after the 1988 movie, Willow continues the spirit of adventure, heroics and humor of the original film in this new series debuting on Disney+ in 2022. Warwick Davis will return in the role of the great sorcerer, Willow Ufgood, with Jon Chu directing the pilot.

National Geographic

A Real Bug’s Life

A Real Bug’s Life will be one of the most ambitious and innovative natural history series ever to be made. Only now, with recent advancements in miniaturized technology, can we meet these extraordinary little characters and see our colossal world through their tiny eyes. A Real Bug’s Life takes viewers on an unforgettable journey that exposes us to how these microsized creatures keep our world turning while facing monstrous forces and threats.

America the Beautiful

It’s the land we love and the land we think we know. We see America’s breathtaking landscapes and wildlife as timeless, but the truth is very different. Its unique geography drives the forces of nature to extremes, shaping and reshaping the land and throwing down new challenges for life.

Genius: Martin Luther King Jr.

From executive producers Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, the Genius scripted franchise continues exclusively for Disney+ subscribers beginning with season four, which will explore the extraordinary life and immeasurable impact of Nobel Peace Prize winner Martin Luther King Jr., who led seismic change in the civil rights movement in America.

Limitless with Chris Hemsworth

What if you could combat aging and discover the full potential of the human body? Global movie star Chris Hemsworth explores this revolutionary idea in the new National Geographic original series, Limitless With Chris Hemsworth. Undergoing a series of epic trials and extraordinary challenges in order to understand the limits of the human body, he’ll learn firsthand how we can live better for longer by discovering ways to regenerate damage, maximize strength, build resilience, supercharge memory and confront mortality. Entertaining, immersive and life-changing, Limitless will rewrite the rulebook on living better for longer.

Secrets of the Wales

From executive producer James Cameron, narrated by Sigourney Weaver, Secrets of the Whales is the work of acclaimed National Geographic Explorer and photographer Brian Skerry, as he helps tell the story of a species he’s been documenting for decades. The four-part event series will tell the stories of the extraordinary cultures of five different whale species—orcas, belugas, narwhals, sperm whales and humpback whales.

Welcome to Earth

The world’s most charismatic movie star, Will Smith embarks on an awe-inspiring global journey to unlock the secrets of the most extraordinary and unexplained phenomena of nature. In each episode, Smith is guided by National Geographic Explorers traveling to different corners of the world to get up close and personal with the weirdest, most unusual, dangerous and thrilling spectacles of the planet. This is Earth as you have never seen it before

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